A wedding in the life of every couple in love is perhaps one of the most significant and exciting events. Each nation has its own customs and traditions. In this article we will talk about how the wedding takes place in Turkey, what preparations precede this important event and other interesting details of the wedding in this amazing country.
A bit about Turkey
Turkey is a beautiful and distinctive country.
Anyone who has ever been there once, having plunged into an unforgettable atmosphere, will never forget her. All local life is thoroughly saturated with traditions passed down from generation to generation. Turkey is very proud of them, trying to honor and not forget them.
The customs of the country were formed from mixes of various ethnic groups. The predominant religion in Turkey is Islam (it is professed by about 80% of the population). It is he who defines the key concepts and norms in the lifestyle of the bulk of modern Turks. Religion plays a fundamental role in the relationship between people and forms traditions in all aspects of human life: the birth of a child, seeing off relatives on the last journey, the customs of weddings in Turkey, etc.
Family traditions are very strong in the country. The key figure in the family is a man. A woman has, although a few less rights, is also highly respected by her relatives. Recently, under the influence of Western civilization, women and men are more and more equal in rights. Especially the influence of the West is felt in big cities. In rural areas, ancient customs are preserved with greater care.
Wedding
Family life begins with a wedding. After two lovers put wedding rings on each other's fingers, and this fact will be registered officially, the joint life of the husband and wife begins. Of course, many couples in different countries now live without a stamp in their passport, while they give birth to joint children, but no one has yet canceled the institution of the family. What about marriage registration in Turkey?
In this matter, the Turks are very principled and old-fashioned. Islam is a religion of strict morals, and liberties are unacceptable here. Turks adhere to ancient customs, and fashion trends of other nations have little concern for them. “Civil marriage”, so popular already in many countries of the world, is a rarity for Turkey. Here, even in the most free-thinking couples, it is not customary to start a family without registering a marriage. A wedding in Turkey is, as a rule, a prerequisite for people living together, building a common life and having children. If two young (or not very young) people decide to live together, sharing all the joys and difficulties, they get married. If the couple is not married, they are at the “meeting” stage, while having a separate life.
Wedding preparations
Turks take this important issue very seriously. Each couple expects that their choice will be right and the family will be created once and for life. Therefore, everything is carefully thought out, and rash decisions are not the place here. In fact, this is correct, since it often happens that marriage made under the influence of a momentary hobby often ends in divorce.
A wedding in Turkey is an event planned with special care. The ceremony itself is preceded by many different stages and preparations. The stages of formation of a future family begin long before the marriage. Sometimes it takes more than one year until the young lovers reach the registry office. What are these stages?
Well, firstly, of course, the emergence of joint sympathy. When young people understand: they like each other so much that you can already think about how to connect by marriage, the next step is to get to know your parents. The families of the bride and groom officially meet in order to get to know each other better, to figure out what their main values ​​are, and to understand whether the newlyweds can create a happy family.
This is followed by an engagement (which will be discussed in more detail here), women visiting the Turkish bath and hen party. All these stages are a tribute to traditions, a test of strength, a memory that remains for life.
Engagement
Wedding in Turkey must be preceded by an engagement. Since it is not yet the official registration of marriage, each family can conduct it in different ways. There are no strict rules in this regard. Some families set the table and call friends. Others rent a bridal salon. And some young people just put rings on each other, but always in the family circle. The groom usually gives his bride a ring with one stone, usually a diamond. Not all Turkish women without such a symbolic gift will agree to marriage.
Engagement (in Turkish “nishan”) is, in fact, voicing before everyone an agreement of their intentions. Therefore, at this event must be attended by the family of the bride and groom, or at least the parents of young people. Very often during an engagement, plans for the future life of young people and relationships between families are discussed, many organizational issues are resolved.
Engagement, as well as a wedding in Turkey, is a very serious event in the life of young people. Nowadays, in large cities, after an official engagement, young people can decide to live together. But in families with strict views or in small villages, common life is possible only after the wedding. In Turkey, traditions are very strong and many families observe sacredly.
Henna night before a Turkish wedding
The night of henna in Turkey before the wedding is a ceremony that all brides pass. After the girl’s dowry was delivered to the groom’s house, and the bride (according to ancient customs) visited the bathhouse, having “washed” before the wedding, a special holiday called “Henna Night” begins. This is an ancient rite that can happen to a girl only once in her entire life.
“Henna Night” is held in the female part of the house where the young wife will live after the wedding (usually this is the groom’s house). Men at this time gather separately, marking this event in their own way.
The ceremony of this night itself is very beautiful and shrouded in magic. The bride puts on a special dress called bindally. It is very expensive and luxurious. It is all covered with beautiful traditional embroidery done by hand. This dress is a family heirloom that is carefully preserved and passed on to the next generation for the ceremony.
Next, the girl's face is covered with a red veil with sparkles and sequins. Henna for the ritual on a silver tray with two lighted candles bring relatives of the groom. The future mother-in-law rolls a roll of silk fabric under the feet of the bride. The bride and girlfriends bypass the gathered guests, holding lit candles in their hands. At this time, guests showered the girl’s head with coins, as a symbol of wealth and fertility. After going around the guests on a rolled silk roll, the future daughter-in-law approaches the mother of the groom and bow her head, expressing her respect and reverence, while kissing the hand of the future mother-in-law.
Then they bring treats to the guests, sad traditional songs are heard that cause tears for the bride, which are considered the key to a happy married life. The groom’s mother pours a henna spoon in the girl’s palm and puts them on a gold coin.
The culmination of this rite is the henna painting of the palms, fingertips and thumbs on the bride’s feet. This makes the woman most fortunate in marriage. Hands of unmarried bridesmaids also sign with henna.
Traditional turkish wedding
The organization of a wedding in Turkey begins with the choice of venue for the celebration. Since weddings in this country are usually numerous, there are many specialized salons designed for a large number of guests (up to a thousand, or even more). This is very convenient, since in one room there is a restaurant, a dance floor, and a concert hall.
Registration of marriage and wedding are several different things. It happens just a painting in the registry office without magnificent celebrations. It also happens that at first young people sign, and later they play a wedding. But the most exciting scenario is when the painting is done in a wedding salon in the presence of guests.
At a traditional Turkish wedding with religious observance, the bride will certainly be covered with her head, like most other women. Long sleeves, the absence of extra cuts, as well as a red satin ribbon tied around the waist as a symbol of innocence - only such a dress can afford a true Muslim. If the wedding is traditional, but the family is not particularly religious, then the scarf on the bride’s head may not be there, and the dress may have a small neckline and bare shoulders.
The number of guests at such a wedding can amaze foreigners unaccustomed to such a scale. Relatives, friends, residents of the district - the total number can reach several thousand people. It is not always possible to feed all guests, so traditional drinks and sweets are offered as a treat. Families with high incomes can afford a full treat. However, in any case, there will be no pork and alcohol at the Turkish wedding.
By the way, the wedding of the year in Turkey, when the daughter of the president of the country married a businessman, refers to the luxurious celebrations of the rich and eminent, which are often stylized specifically for a traditional ceremony. The first persons of the state are obliged to honor customs, therefore, in all the significant events of their lives, they adhere to the traditions of the country in which they live.
A photo of a wedding in Turkey is presented below.
We go further. What is being given for a wedding in Turkey? The traditional gift is money and gold. The closer the relatives - the more expensive the gifts. Various jewelry, bracelets, chains are worn directly on the young, money is also pinned to clothes. By the end of the celebration, the newlyweds look like Christmas trees decorated with valuable gifts.
Unconventional wedding
Freely minded Turks who do not adhere to religious dogma prefer a liberal wedding. It differs from the traditional in several parameters.
First is the number of guests. Here you are unlikely to see thousands of guests, most likely only the closest people (up to 200 people) will be present at the celebration. As a rule, guests are invited either to a wedding salon or to a restaurant of a large hotel.
Secondly, as a treat, guests will be offered a full-fledged diet (various drinks, cold snacks, main course, main course, cake), and most importantly, alcohol will be present at this holiday, which is unacceptable at a traditional Muslim wedding.
Thirdly, this is the dress of the bride. In this case, the girl’s fantasy will not be limited to a certain color and style. At a liberal wedding, the bride can choose any dress to her taste.
Both at a traditional and at a liberal wedding for Russian people who are not dedicated to the intricacies of Turkish customs, the presence of wreaths at a celebration can be a shock. If it is customary for us to give them on a much less pleasant occasion, namely, on the occasion of the funeral, then in Turkey flower wreaths are presented to any festive event. On the occasion of the wedding - the ribbons will be bright, and on the wreaths intended for the funeral, black.
A notable event at the Turkish wedding is the removal of the cake. If there are a lot of invited guests, often the cake is made of plastic (or rather its layout). Newlyweds only imitate its cutting. In the artificial version of the treats, a small piece of the present is hidden. They are young publicly treat each other. The Turks explain this by the fact that a figured cake is very difficult to divide into an equal number of guests, so the real one is baked flat. And artificial - is just a festive element of the gala evening.
A liberal wedding in Turkey, a photo that illustrates this event below, is not much different from a western one.
Russian wedding in Turkey
For foreigners who want to plunge into the colorful atmosphere of another country, refreshing their feelings with a partner, there is one wonderful suggestion - a symbolic wedding in Turkey. It does not involve official registration, but it can recreate a magical ceremony to the smallest detail. This celebration will be a real romantic tale for two. You can make scripts yourself, or you can contact a special agency that will tell you the most successful ideas and take care of organizing the entire holiday. Recently, it has become very fashionable to hold such ceremonies abroad. A symbolic wedding in Turkey is a really good way to experience new sensations, better feel the traditions of the country, and also feel like newlyweds again.
For those who want to have a real wedding ceremony in Turkey, nothing is impossible either. Despite the fact that the main religion of this country is Islam, many Orthodox churches have survived in Turkey. That is, Russian Orthodox people have the opportunity to hold a wedding ceremony in one of them.
Kurdish wedding in Turkey
About 15 million Kurds live in Turkey. This is one of the oldest peoples of the Middle East has its own customs and customs. For example, there is such a tradition - to betroth babies immediately after they are born. When the betrothed reaches the age when they can get married - they play a wedding.
A Kurdish girl can choose her husband for herself. However, if her choice did not coincide with the parental one, she has no right to resist. A father or brother can forcefully marry a girl.
Kurdish weddings last from three days to a week. They differ in that they sing a lot on them. The songs are called brig and performed by folk singers.
A Kurdish wedding is expensive, so the money is saved in advance. If the relatives of the bride and groom are geographically far apart, two weddings are celebrated. They treat guests with rice and meat. For these purposes, several rams or calves are specially killed. Traditional gifts are money or sheep. Wedding expenses, usually due to generous gifts, pay off in full.
Wedding is played in the spring. The festival is held in tents at a wooden table on wooden benches. Men and women celebrate the holiday in different tents. Drinks and food for men are served by young men. One of the corners of the house or tent is separated by a curtain. Here the newlyweds will spend their first wedding night.
Finally
Now you know a little about the wedding in Turkey. Reviews about this ceremony from those people who had the pleasure of watching it are the most positive. In whatever style the Turkish wedding takes place, it is always gorgeous and fun. Turks love to celebrate in a big way. The atmosphere of unrestrained fun, the sea of ​​songs and dances, the brilliance of gold - all this is abundantly present at the celebration of the wedding. Residents of Turkey believe that how you play a wedding - this will be the life of young people, so they put their whole soul into this event and try to do everything to the maximum.
Those young who are imbued with the wedding traditions of this unforgettable country have the opportunity to experience all the charms and nuances of triumph. You can celebrate a real wedding in Turkey. For those who prefer to register a marriage in their homeland, and in Turkey just wants to refresh their emotions and feelings, you can celebrate a symbolic wedding. In any case, this event will forever remain in your memory as the most beautiful and unforgettable.